Major developments approved for Orange

The approval process of two developments in Orange worth a total of $40 million has been defended by the Western Region Planning Panel.

The group has given the go-ahead to a $12 million retail complex including a Woolworths supermarket and other shops in the city's north.

The company has also agreed to spend more than $620 thousand to help install a set of traffic lights on the Northern Distributor to address safety concerns.

The Council will pay the remaining $330 thousand.

City Councillor and panel member Chris Gryllis says it's an important condition which has been placed on the development.

"Absolutely and in fact my concern was the traffic arrangement of the Northern Distributor road and that was done according to the council officer's suggestion."

Newcrest Mining's proposal for a $30 million support centre in the Leewood Industrial Estate has also been approved.

The facility will be where mining operations will be controlled from.

Councillor Gryllis says it's a great result.

"It is an exciting day for Orange because as you know both projects are substantial. You might say that how can you approve $40 million within 30 minutes the applicants in both events spent enormous hours to put the proposition together."